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Post by socal1200r on Jan 26, 2010 20:14:22 GMT -5
So I went to Home Depot and bought some angle iron and bar stock, took the trailer to Superior Trailer on Euclid (near Witchduck), and $85 later they welded the angle iron on the front, with 4 large eye hooks for tie downs, and two support bars on the back. I got the trailer home, was scraping off some rust flakes in preparation for some roll-on bedliner coating, and noticed two more welds on some angle iron pieces for the bottom fender support were loose, WTF, over?!
So I bought more angle iron, more bar stock, and plan on taking it back to Superior on Wed and see if they can fix these broken welds. I'm going to have them beef up the fender assemblies with some of the bar stock, because those fenders were flexing pretty good, and occasionally rubbing the back of the tires. I figure with new angle iron and fresh welds, and some add'l bar stock braces, should stiffen up those fenders so they hopefully won't flex and rub the tires.
We'll see...
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Post by 87B2XLT on Jan 27, 2010 3:16:13 GMT -5
Note to self - next time, ask the forum for some solutions, instead of being in a rush to make it work...better to get it done right, than right away... Thanks man, that would've been a MUCH better solution... Remember, we're not always here to pour salt in wounds, heckle, and otherwise textually abuse people. Sometimes, we actually might have a good idea or solution lying around somewhere amongst our grey matter ;D Sounds like you're taking a well-abused hulk of (insert adult word here) and bringing it back to some sort of decent usable condtion.... with your own touches here and there. Nothing wrong with that! Good luck on getting it all done and to your liking Dave G
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Post by socal1200r on Jan 28, 2010 16:23:39 GMT -5
Well, Superior Trailer didn't charge me anything to redo the welds on two pieces of angle iron on the back, and they let me scrounge thru their wood pile to get a loading ramp. I got a piece of 2"x6"x48", which should fit nicely between the tires once the bike is on the trailer. I got some bolts to snug it down in the channel, so everything's on the trailer. 'Course I could always throw it in the bed of the truck, but I plan on keeping it on the trailer.
I'm done messing around with this thing for now. If I end up heading back to So Cal, and it hauls my bike back there without shaking itself apart, I'll pat myself on the back and say I got my money's worth. Then I have all the hassles with the CA DMV to look forward to, with bringing in vehicles from out of state...sigh...
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Post by jeeepxj on Jan 28, 2010 19:24:44 GMT -5
So where's the picture of the finished product? ;D
You should also post up a pic of it loaded up.. ;D
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Post by 87B2XLT on Jan 29, 2010 4:13:15 GMT -5
Then I have all the hassles with the CA DMV to look forward to, with bringing in vehicles from out of state...sigh... When did CA reinstate their impact fees? Last I knew, they recinded them.... so there's $400 you won't have to pay. If you're active duty military, you don't have to do anything to move to CA at all - especially if your vehicle is registered / titled in the State that is your permanent residence. There's also a loophole if you're active duty military and you rent/lease/buy a home, etc. I didn't have to worry about this because my Nissan was bought in California, but at the time, I wouldn't have had to worry about it anyway. Yes, there's all the other fees you'd still have to pay for non-residents moving to California if you're not active duty, but it's still a LOT cheaper than it used to be.... and getting your 'inspection' and smog check done isn't that difficult, if you work it right. I had my Dad's car inspected, smogged, titled and registered all in the same day - on a walk-in without an appointment at any of the places. *shrug* Dave G
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Post by socal1200r on Jan 29, 2010 13:04:47 GMT -5
I bought a used GMC Sonoma for my youngest daughter to drive (she's a HS freshman), had it registered here in VA, with personal plates. My oldest daughter flew out here in Dec, and drove it back to CA, which is my home of record. I was TDY here in Norfolk, but I'm currently in-between orders (reservist).
I knew the truck would have to be smog checked as part of the vehicle registration back in CA, but according to my wife, it was a big hassle to get it registered. Apparently, she didn't drive the truck to the DMV, and the DMV said they will have to put on the CA plates. I suppose that's so the DMV can verify the VIN, and that this truck actually exists (you'd think the smog certificate would be proof enough, lol!).
I told her that I have three more vehicles here in VA that will eventually have to be registered in CA, so I have that CA DMV experience to look forward to. I can drive the MJ and put my Honda Sabre on the trailer, but I'll have to come up with a plan to get the Saturn Sky back there. Easiest solution would be for a friend to drive with me, and I'll pay for their one-way ticket back to VA. Or, I can fly back to VA and drive it myself. Guess I'll cross that bridge if and when I get there...
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Post by 87B2XLT on Jan 30, 2010 0:03:34 GMT -5
Yeah, that is probably the biggest part of the hassle: the VIN verification/inspection. You should be able to do that at either DMV or the local CHP/Sheriff/City police - unless that's changed, again I was almost forced to get a smog check, etc. just to get a base sticker for my TX-registered vehicle... AND pay the $400 impact fee in the process. Thankfully, someone with a head on their shoulders changed that rule for CA military bases and military stationed in CA. Heck, even on my CA-registered vehicle, I was exempt from everything, including smog checks. I paid $54 a year - until I quit using an FPO address while IN CA. That first smog check included them having to fix a sensor so my CEL would reset.... $300 later, I was then able to register the thing. No fond memories there. Had I known I could have had the dealership just do the paperwork and title/register the thing in TX at the time, I would have done that and saved myself a lot of headache Dave G
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